Article VI (film)
Encyclopedia
Article VI: Faith. Politics. America is a documentary film at the intersection of faith
, politics
, and bigotry
. Religious leaders, political pundits, and average citizens are asked who has the right to be elected? Has the Founding Fathers of the United States
vision of religious freedom been upheld or violated? Article Six of the United States Constitution
grants the right that no religious test shall be required to enter into elected public office. But have the citizens taken that right away? Would the religious and moral judgments of today have prevented Americans from electing some of their most beloved Presidents? Article VI investigates politics in the ever-changing world of religious tolerance and freedom.
: "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
during the 2008 Presidential race. While following the debates, Hall becomes increasingly aware of the escalating attacks against a particular candidate over his religion: Mitt Romney
, who happens to also be a Mormon. Hall decides to investigate this issue and comes to realize that the issue of religious bigotry
in politics goes far beyond his own faith. It has been the subject of intense argument from the earliest days of the American colonies. In the end, Hall makes the case for the need for religious tolerance in America; not just for his religion, but for all religions.
, Pastor Robert Jeffress, Hugh Hewitt
, Bill Keller, Randall Balmer
, Edwin Meese
, David French, Judge Roy Moore, Flip Benham
, Charles Cohen and Pastor George Evans.
"There may be separation of church and state. But never of church and politics."
"... a fascinating mixture of vituperation, rumination, and condemnation, with lots of different people participating."
"An ecumenical, bipartisan team is heading into 10 early-voting states with a documentary about faith and politics that is loaded with provocative interviews in an effort to force viewers to confront biases they’re never realized."
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, and bigotry
Bigotry
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs...
. Religious leaders, political pundits, and average citizens are asked who has the right to be elected? Has the Founding Fathers of the United States
Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
vision of religious freedom been upheld or violated? Article Six of the United States Constitution
Article Six of the United States Constitution
Article Six of the United States Constitution establishes the Constitution and the laws and treaties of the United States made in accordance with it as the supreme law of the land, forbids a religious test as a requirement for holding a governmental position and holds the United States under the...
grants the right that no religious test shall be required to enter into elected public office. But have the citizens taken that right away? Would the religious and moral judgments of today have prevented Americans from electing some of their most beloved Presidents? Article VI investigates politics in the ever-changing world of religious tolerance and freedom.
Facts
The title is taken from Article Six of the United States ConstitutionArticle Six of the United States Constitution
Article Six of the United States Constitution establishes the Constitution and the laws and treaties of the United States made in accordance with it as the supreme law of the land, forbids a religious test as a requirement for holding a governmental position and holds the United States under the...
: "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Plot
The story follows filmmaker Bryan Hall's experience as a MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
during the 2008 Presidential race. While following the debates, Hall becomes increasingly aware of the escalating attacks against a particular candidate over his religion: Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, who happens to also be a Mormon. Hall decides to investigate this issue and comes to realize that the issue of religious bigotry
Bigotry
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs...
in politics goes far beyond his own faith. It has been the subject of intense argument from the earliest days of the American colonies. In the end, Hall makes the case for the need for religious tolerance in America; not just for his religion, but for all religions.
Production
In July 2007, Director Bryan Hall and his film crew began traveling the country in an RV, investigating this issue. The film was shot on location in over 30 states across the U.S. The majority of filming was completed by September 2007. Over the course of those 3 months, they gathered close to 150 hours of footage, from interviews, to news clips and political propaganda. Key interviews include Richard LandRichard Land
Dr. Richard D. Land, aka Chief Red Bull, is the president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission , the moral and ethics concern entity of the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States, a post he has held since 1988...
, Pastor Robert Jeffress, Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he comments on society, politics, and media bias in the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law.-...
, Bill Keller, Randall Balmer
Randall Balmer
Randall Herbert Balmer is an American author, professor of American religious history at Barnard College, Columbia University, an editor for Christianity Today and an Episcopal priest. He earned the Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1985...
, Edwin Meese
Edwin Meese
Edwin "Ed" Meese, III is an attorney, law professor, and author who served in official capacities within the Ronald Reagan Gubernatorial Administration , the Reagan Presidential Transition Team , and the Reagan White House , eventually rising to hold the position of the 75th Attorney General of...
, David French, Judge Roy Moore, Flip Benham
Flip Benham
Philip "Flip" Benham is an evangelical Christian minister and the national leader of Concord, North Carolina-based Operation Save America.-Pro-life ministry:...
, Charles Cohen and Pastor George Evans.
Reviews
"The intent of ‘Article VI’ isn’t to persuade voters one way or another, but to promote healthy dialogue.""There may be separation of church and state. But never of church and politics."
"... a fascinating mixture of vituperation, rumination, and condemnation, with lots of different people participating."
"An ecumenical, bipartisan team is heading into 10 early-voting states with a documentary about faith and politics that is loaded with provocative interviews in an effort to force viewers to confront biases they’re never realized."